To what extent was this a boom time for British agriculture?
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• There was stability in the price of wheat and other prices rose steadily, but not spectacularly.
• The best growth in prices lay in livestock-related areas.
• A steady increase in major elements of farming was bound to have a good impact on farmers generally.
• As real wages rose nationally, and in particularly urban areas, and with a growing m/c spending an increasing proportion of their income on quality food, there was certain to be an increase in demand for meat, all types of dairy produce, and of course wool.
• Rural depopulation could be absorbed by the growing demand for labour in the towns and factories, so the problems caused by mechanisation and the switch to live-stock based farming, which used less labour than crop farming, was not too noticeable. Also the huge drainage works absorbed a lot of labour.
• The huge urban demand for milk, which rail could meet, also lead to a shift in the use of the labour force to milking and transportation.
• With excellent market conditions and a growing population and rail making access to towns easy, prices rose steadily in most parts of farming produce (20%-50%). So when a severe depression came in the 1870s this period was looked back on as a period of prosperity.

Other Notes in this Category

1. How important were the railways to Great Britain?
2. To what extent was this a boom time for British agriculture?
3. To what extent was this a period of industrial boom?
4. What was the impact of the repeal of the Corn Laws?
5. What were the main developments in agriculture during this period?
6. What were the main weaknesses in British agriculture during this period?
7. Why was this such a period of growth for British industry?

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